First light offered temperatures of below freezing and a light west wind. I was treated to the view in the first photo, from a 25 ' high stand overlooking a meadow with thick cedar bush on both sides. This is my 'usual' stand for the gun hunt. Although I did take a doe from it with my Exomag earlier in the season, a buck tag was all I had left.
It wasn't long after the 6:59 sunrise that a deer entered the field through long grass on the left. As he lifted his head to sniff the overhanging tree branches I saw antlers, and said 'there's my buck'.
Through the scope at 75 yards I could see he had enough body size to justify taking him. Thick bodied, yet still tender. Just what I wanted.
I let the slug fly.
It's amazing that a deer with no lungs and half a heart can still run 80 yards.
The retrieval was a joy. Most deer I shoot are in the evening, and often require a search in the dark on hands and knees. This time I got to enjoy the fallen quary in daylight, and marvelled at the beauty of his tenderloins and hams. I even did a good job of gutting without having to do it in the dark. There was no rush.
We spent some time together in the glistening dew and sunrise before the trip to the butchers. I was thankful for his presence.
Now for some serious duck hunting before the freeze.
Maple
